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March 22, 1952, Palm Springs California. I was there cheering Roger on — wearing my specially-made Simca T-shirt that had amused Barlow when I came to his dealership earlier that same year.This is the first of the two Roger Barlow Simcas, seen here with mechanic Bill Pringle behind the wheel. Pringle raced this car in the event, while Barlow himself drove the new Simca special, #62, with right hand drive. Pringle finished second and Barlow fifth in the main event. Al Coppel won the class in his MG special.

As we have seen, Studebaker designer and part time photographer Bob Temple recorded sports car events at the Studebaker Proving Grounds and the Press on Regardless Rally in the early 1950s. Temple also went out west, and was there with Kodachrome for the Palm Springs races on March 22, 1952. Most remarkably, Jim Sitz was there as well and recorded all the cars on his invaluable set of index cards. He was therefore able to identify and comment on the cars and the personalities at the race. Our thanks to both the late Bob Temple and the very much still alive Jim Sitz.

Photos by Bob Temple courtesy Vintage Motorphoto
Story and captions by Jim Sitz

I had the good fortune to attend the March 22, 1952 event at Palm Springs, California. The photographs were taken by Bob Temple. I also had attended earlier events there in April and October of 1951.

The April 1951 event featured Jim Kimberly’s Ferrari 166 Barchetta and a young mechanic named Phil Hill, who drove his old Alfa 2.9. What a car! What a sound! The memory of Hill’s Alfa prompted me to follow his career. Race fans also saw and heard a Ferrari V-12 for first time on west coast. [Read more…] about And How! Bob Temple at Palm Springs

Frank Mandarano’s Maserati’s 3500 GT is a real survivor. With the exception of the paint, it’s completely original. First sold in Mexico, it still has many artifacts from its early period, including its Mexican road tax decals. It is posed in front of Cuistot, the traditional home of the luncheon after Saturday’s tour. Owners Bernard and Susan Dervieux are collectors and Bernard has dabbled in vintage racing.

Story by Michael T. Lynch
Photos by author unless otherwise noted.

The 2013 edition of the Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance was held on the combined properties of the Doral Desert Princess Resort and the Desert Princess Country Club on Sunday, February 24th. Clear skies and wind off the San Jacinto mountains marked the day. [Read more…] about Desert Classic 2013